Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-03-04


watching the operation. asked him to put on
another. saving that ''white one" would
do at pinch.
There remained, when these questions
were satisfactorily settled, two further inn
portant points for consideration, namely,
that of arms and that of servants. As to the
arms | cannot do better than put down
list of those we finally decided on from
among the ample store that Sir Henry had
brought with him from Engi.lI, and those
which had. / copy it from my pocket
book. where | made the entry at the time.
Three heavy breechloading double-eight
elephant guns, weighing about fifteen pounds
each, with heavy charge OF eleven drains
of black powder" Two pounds of these
were by well-known London firm, most
excellent makers. but | do not know by
whom mine, which was not so highly I'm
ished. was made had used it on several
trips. and shot a good many elephants with
il and il always proved a most superior
weapon, thoroughly 10 be relied on.
Three double five-hundred expresses,
constructed to carry q charge OF six DRAINS"
sweet weapons, ana admirable for medium
sized game. such as Gland and sable ante
Iope, or for men. especially in an open coun-
try and with the semi-hollow bullet
.,One double No. II central-fire Keepers
shotgun, full choke both barrels" This
gun proved of the greatest service to US af-
tcrwari in shooting game for the pot.
.rhree Winchester repeating rifles mot
carbines), spare guns.
Three slngIc-action Colts revolver5 with
the heavier pattern OF cartridge"
This was our total armament, and the
reader will doubtless observe that the wea-
pOns of each class were Of the same make
and caliber so that the cartridges were inter
changeable, very important point make
no apology for detailing it at length, for
every experienced hunter will know how
vital proper supply of guns and ammunl-
ton is to the success of an expedition.
Now, as to the men who were to go with
us. After much consultation we decided
that their number should be limited TO five.
namely. driver, leader and three Serv-
ants.
The driver and leader | got without much
difficulty, two Zu,us, named respectively
GOA and Tom, but the servants were more
difficult matter. 1t was necessary that they
should be thoroughly trustworthy and brave
men, as in a business of this sort our lives
might depend upon their conduct. At last
secured two, one a HottentOt called Vent
vogel (wind-birD, and one a little Zulu
named khiva, who had the merit of speak
ing English perfectly. VentvOgel 1 had
known before; he was one of the most per
feet 'spoOrers" (game-trackeTs) | ever had
to do with, and tough as whipcord. lie
never seemed to tire. But he had one fall
ing SO common with his race. drink. Put
him within reach Of a bottle of grOg and you
could not trust him. But as we We're going
beyond the region Of grOg-ShopS this little
weakness OF his did not so much matter.
Having got these two men, | looked i'll
vain for third TO suit my purpose, so we
determined TO start without one, trusting to
lnck to find a suitable man on our way up
country. But on the evening before the day
we had fixed for our departure the Zulu
khiva Informed me that a man was waiting
t. see me. Accordingly, when we had done
dinner. for we were at table at the time, |
told him TO bring him in. Presently a very
tall, misunderstanding man, somewhere
about thirty years of age, and very light
colored for Zulu, entered, and lifting his
knOb-stck by way Of salute, squatted him
self down In the corner on his launches,
and sat silent | did not take any notice OF
him for awhile, for it is a great mistake to
do so. Ii you rush into conversation at
once Zulu is apt to think you person of
little dignity or consideration. | observed,
however, that he was "kcshla" (ringed
man, that is, that he wore on his head the
black ring, made of species of gum polish
ed with fat and worked in with the hair,
usually assumed by Zulus on attaining
certain age or dignity. Also it struck me
that his face was familiar to me.
We'll, | said at last what is your
name?"
"UmbOpa," answered the man in a slow,
deep voice.
81 have seen your face before"
Yes; the Inloosi' Chief saw my face
at the place of the Little Hand'' Qsandhl-
wanna 1.-THE day before the battle"
Then / remembered | had been one of
Lord Chelmsford'S guides In that nlucKy
Zulu war, and had had the good fortune to
leave the camp in charge of some wagons
the day before the battle. While had been
waiting for the cattle to be inspanned had
fallen into conversation with tins man, who
held some small command among the native
auxiiarics, and he had expressed to me
his doubts of the safety of the camp. At
the time told him to hold his tongue and
leave such matters to wiser heads; but after
ward thought of his words.
II remember" | said; what Is it YOU
wautw
ut Is this, 'Macumazahn' Chat Is my Ka-
fir name, and means the man who get up in
the middle of the night, or, in Vulgar En-
glish, he who keeps his eyes OPEN. hear
that You 20 on Il great expedition far into
q 4, 4,
the water. is il a true wnrd?'
at is"
Il hear that you even go to Lukanga
River, a moons urney beyond the Maniea
country. Is this So also, 'Mlcumazlhn'?'
why do You ask whittier we go? What
is il 20 thec?' | answered, suspicIouSly, for
the objects of our journey had been kept
dead secret
at is this, o white men! that if indeed
you travel SO far would travel with YOU"
l here was a certain assumption of dignity
in tie mans mode of speech, and especia ly
in his use of the words 20 white menu in
stead of 20 lnkoSiS' (chiefs), which struck
me.
You forget yourself little" | said.
"1 our words come out unawareS. That is
not the way to speak. What is your name.
and where is your kraal? Tell It's, that we
may know with whom we have to deal"
My name is Umbopa. am of the Zulu
people. yet not OF them. The house of my
tribe is in the far north; it was left behind
when the ZuluS came down here thousand
wears ago. long before Chaka reigned in
Lululand. l have no kraal. | have wan
dered for many years. l came from the
north as child to Zululand | was Getty
wayo's man in the Nkomabakos Regiment
ran away from Zululand and came to Ma
tai because wanted to see the white mans
ways. Then | served against Cetywayo in
the war, Since then have been working
in Natal. Now | am tired, and would so
north again. Here is not my place. want
no money, but | am a brave man, and am
worth my place and meat have spoken"
was rather puzzled at this man aud his
way of speech. 1t was evident to me from
his manner that he was in the main telling
the truth, but he was somehow different
from the ordinary run of ZuluS, and rather
miStrusted his offer to come without pay.
Being in difficulty, l translated his words
to Sir Henry and Good, and asked them
their opinion. Sir Henry told me to ask
him TO stand up. Umbopa did so, at the
same time slipping off the long military
great coat he wore, and revealing himself
naked except for the moacha round his CEN
ter and necklace of lions claws. He GER
tainly was Misunderstanding man, l
never saw finer native. Standing about
six feet three high, he was broad IN proper
ton, and very shapely. In that light too,
his skin looked scarcely more than dark, ex-
cept here and there where deep black scars
marked old aSSegai wounds. Sir Henry
walked up to him and looked into his proud